JP3784699B2 - Optical fiber array - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field belonging to the invention]
The present invention relates to an optical fiber array having a structure in which a plurality of optical fibers are accommodated in an alignment groove of an array body and fixed, and an optical waveguide and an optical fiber are connected.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 5 shows a conventional optical fiber array 1. This optical fiber array 1 includes a plurality of alignment grooves (V-grooves in the illustrated example) 2a on the front side (left side in FIG. 5). After pressing with 4, the gap between the array body 2 and the lid 4 is filled with an adhesive, and each optical fiber 3a is aligned and fixed to the array body 2. In the illustrated example, the optical fibers 3a accommodated and fixed in the alignment grooves 2a are individual optical fibers of the optical fiber tape 3, and the portions in the alignment grooves 2a are bare fibers from which the coating has been removed.
The optical fiber tape 3 needs to be fixed to the array body 2 so that an excessive force is not applied to the optical fiber 3 fixed to the alignment groove 2a. The fixing of the optical fiber tape 3 to the array body 2 is as follows. A direct fixing method is employed in which the optical fiber tape 3 is fixed to the upper surface of the flat rear portion of the array body 2 with an adhesive 6. After fixing the optical fiber tape 3, the front end surface of the optical fiber array 1 is polished to form a connection end surface.
[0003]
FIG. 6 shows another conventional optical fiber array 8. In this optical fiber array 8, the optical fiber tape 3 is fixed to the array body 2 by applying an adhesive 6 ′ and pressing the optical fiber tape 3 with the shallow reverse U-shaped tape fixing component 9. Adopts a tape fixing component usage system that fixes to the flat rear upper surface.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the case of the directly fixed type optical fiber array 1 of FIG. 5, sufficient fixing strength with respect to the array body 2 of the optical fiber tape 3 cannot be obtained only by fixing with the adhesive 6. There is a problem that the tape 3 may be peeled off from the array body 2. Further, the bending force concentrates on the optical fiber tape 3 at the rear end edge (the rear end edge of the array main body 2) 14 and the optical fiber tape 3 is bent. If bending exceeding the allowable bending radius occurs in the optical fiber tape 3 (optical fiber 3a), the bending loss of the optical fiber 3a increases, which is inconvenient.
Further, in the case of the optical fiber array 8 using the tape fixing component shown in FIG. 6, since the optical fiber tape 3 is firmly fixed by the tape fixing component 9, there is no problem of peeling of the optical fiber tape 3. There is a problem that bending force concentrates on the optical fiber tape 3 at the edge 14 and the optical fiber tape 3 is bent.
The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and there is no fear that the optical fiber (or optical fiber tape) will be peeled off from the array body, and the optical fiber (optical fiber tape) is formed at the rear edge of the array. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber array that is less likely to be bent.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention for solving the above-described problems is to accommodate and fix optical fibers in the respective alignment grooves of the array body having a plurality of alignment grooves on the front side, and to arrange the optical fibers group accommodated and fixed in the alignment grooves in the array body. In the optical fiber array drawn backward from the rear side,
The rear part of the optical fiber group is sandwiched between two upper and lower flexible resin sheets to form an optical fiber sheet, and this optical fiber sheet part is on the rear upper surface of the array body and further behind the rear edge of the array. It is characterized by being bonded and fixed in such a manner that it extends .
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the optical fiber group in the optical fiber array of the first aspect is an optical fiber of an optical fiber tape.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the optical fiber array of the second aspect , the rear portion of the optical fiber sheet-like portion is formed wide, and the wide portion is branched from the optical fiber tape into individual single-core optical fibers. And
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical fiber array 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a plan view of the optical fiber array 11, and FIG. The optical fiber array 11 includes an optical fiber 3a in each of the alignment grooves 2a of the array body 2 provided with a plurality of alignment grooves (V grooves in the illustrated example) 2a on the front side (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2). After being accommodated and pressed by the lid 4, the gap between the array body 2 and the lid 4 is filled with an adhesive, and each optical fiber 3 a (optical fiber group) is aligned, positioned and fixed to the array body 2. The optical fiber 3a accommodated and fixed in the alignment groove 2a in the illustrated example is an individual optical fiber of the optical fiber tape 3, and a portion in the alignment groove 2a is a bare fiber from which the coating is removed. In this case, the optical fiber tape 3 is branched into a single-core optical fiber 3a in front of the stepped portion of the array body 2, and the coating is removed immediately before entering the alignment groove 2a to form a bare fiber.
As the material of the array body 2 and the lid 4, materials such as silicon, ceramic, and quartz glass are used.
In the illustrated example, the optical fibers 3 a accommodated and fixed in the alignment grooves 2 a are, for example, individual optical fibers of the four-core optical fiber tape 3.
The above-described range is the same as the conventional optical fiber arrays 1 and 8 of FIGS.
[0011]
In the present invention, in the illustrated example, the rear portion of the optical fiber tape 3 (the rear portion of the array body 2) is sandwiched between two upper and lower flexible resin sheets (hereinafter abbreviated as sheets) 12, and the light Use fiber sheet. Each sheet 12 is coated with an adhesive on the inner surface, and becomes an optical fiber sheet when bonded together with an optical fiber interposed therebetween. This optical fiber sheet-like portion is denoted by reference numeral 13. In the illustrated example, the tip portion of the optical fiber tape 3 is exposed from the sheet 12, but the tip portion of the optical fiber tape 3 may be sandwiched between the upper and lower sheets 12 so as to be hidden.
Then, the lower surface of the optical fiber sheet-like portion 13 (the lower surface of the lower sheet 12) is bonded and fixed to the upper surface of the rear portion of the array body 2 with an adhesive such as an epoxy resin. The sheet 12 has a size that extends further rearward than the rear end edge (rear end edge of the array body 2) 14 of the array. That is, the optical fiber sheet-like portion 13 extends further rearward than the rear end edge 14 of the array.
As the material of the flexible resin sheet 12, a synthetic resin generally used as an optical fiber sheet can be used. For example, polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, or other resins can be used. In short, what is necessary is just to have a degree of flexibility that can be held so that bending force does not concentrate on the optical fiber tape 3 (optical fiber 3a) at the edge of the sheet.
[0012]
In the optical fiber array 11 described above, the vicinity of the rear end edge 14 of the optical fiber tape 3 is sandwiched between the two upper and lower sheets 12 bonded together and is reinforced as an optical fiber sheet-like portion 13. The problem that the fiber tape 3 is bent at the rear end edge 14 of the array is solved. At the sheet edge (the rear edge of the optical fiber sheet-like portion 13) 15, the sheet 12 is made of a flexible resin. Therefore, even if an external force acts on the optical fiber tape 3 during handling, the optical fiber sheet-like portion. Since 13 is easily bent, the optical fiber tape 3 is not bent sharply at the sheet edge 15 and the concentration of bending force is prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bending loss from increasing due to the bending exceeding the allowable bending radius in the optical fiber.
Further, since the lower sheet 12 of the optical fiber sheet-like portion 13 is widely bonded and fixed to the upper surface of the array body 2 with an adhesive, the lower sheet 12 is firmly fixed to the array body 2. In addition, since the optical fiber tape 3 is securely sandwiched between the two flexible resin sheets 12 coated with an adhesive, the problem of the optical fiber tape 3 peeling off from the array body 2 does not occur.
[0013]
3 and 4 show an optical fiber array 21 according to another embodiment. 3 is a perspective view of the optical fiber array 21, FIG. 4A is a plan view of the optical fiber array 21, and FIG. 3B is a side view thereof. In the optical fiber array 21 of this embodiment, the rear portion of the optical fiber tape 3 is sandwiched between two sheets 22 coated with an adhesive in the same manner as described above to form an optical fiber sheet-like portion 23. The rear portion of the optical fiber sheet-like portion 23 (the portion extending from the array main body 2 in the illustrated example) is formed wide, and the wide portion 23a is branched from the optical fiber tape 3 to the single-core optical fiber 3a. Is. That is, in the illustrated example, four four-core optical fiber tapes 3 are branched into 16 single-core optical fibers. In the illustrated example, a single-core optical connector 24 is attached to each branched optical fiber 3a.
3 and 4, the array body 2, the alignment groove 2a, the lid 4 and the like are the same as those in FIGS.
In this embodiment, when branching from the optical fiber tape 3 to the single-core optical fiber 3a, the branch part can be configured integrally with the optical fiber array 21, so the entire configuration including the branch part is simplified. And it is miniaturized. At that time, the problem that the single-core optical fiber 3a is bent at the rear end edge 14 of the array can be avoided.
[0015]
Although the embodiment is applied to the optical fiber arrays 11 and 21 that align and fix the optical fibers 3a of the optical fiber tape 3, it is not an aspect of the optical fiber tape, but an optical fiber having a configuration in which only a plurality of single core optical fibers are aligned and fixed. It can also be applied to arrays.
The means for fixing the optical fiber 3a in the alignment groove 2a is not necessarily limited to the case where the lid 4 is used.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
According to the optical fiber array of the present invention , the array main body is configured such that the vicinity of the rear end edge of the optical fiber (or optical fiber tape) fixed to the optical fiber array extends further rearward than the rear end edge of the array. Since the optical fiber sheet-like portion is reinforced by being sandwiched between the upper and lower flexible resin sheets fixed to the optical fiber, the optical fiber sheet-like portion is flexible when an external force is applied to the optical fiber (or optical fiber tape). Therefore, the problem that the optical fiber (optical fiber tape) is bent at the rear end edge of the array is solved.
In addition, the optical fiber (optical fiber tape) is securely held between the upper and lower flexible resin sheets, and this sheet portion, that is, the optical fiber sheet-like portion, is firmly fixed to the upper surface of the array body with a wide adhesive surface. Therefore, the problem that the optical fiber (optical fiber tape) peels from the array body does not occur.
[0018]
According to claim 3 , in the optical fiber array for aligning and fixing the optical fibers of the optical fiber tape, when branching from the optical fiber tape to the single-core optical fiber, the branching portion can be configured integrally with the optical fiber array. Therefore, the entire configuration including the branch portion is simplified and the size is reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical fiber array according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a plan view of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an optical fiber array according to another embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a plan view of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional optical fiber array.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another conventional optical fiber array.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Array body 2a Alignment groove 3 Optical fiber tape 3a Optical fiber 4 Lid 11, 21 Optical fiber array 12, 22 Flexible resin sheet 13, 23 Optical fiber sheet-like portion 14 Rear end edge of array (rear end edge of array body 2 )
15 Sheet edge (rear edge of optical fiber tape 3)
23a Wide part 24 Optical connector

Claims (3)

An optical fiber in which an optical fiber is accommodated and fixed in each alignment groove of an array body having a plurality of alignment grooves on the front side, and an optical fiber group accommodated and fixed in the alignment groove is drawn rearward from the rear side of the array body In the array
The rear part of the optical fiber group is sandwiched between two upper and lower flexible resin sheets to form an optical fiber sheet, and this optical fiber sheet part is on the rear upper surface of the array body and further behind the rear edge of the array. An optical fiber array, wherein the optical fiber array is bonded and fixed in a manner extending to the surface . Optical fiber array of claim 1, wherein said optical fiber group is equal to or is an optical fiber of an optical fiber ribbon. 3. The optical fiber array according to claim 2, wherein a rear portion of the optical fiber sheet-like portion is formed wide, and the wide portion is branched from an optical fiber tape into individual single-core optical fibers.

Images